Intec swears in its new rector Arturo del Villar; first graduate to hold the position

At the time of his election, he served as Vice-Rector of Academic Affairs at the university.

Santo Domingo. -The Board of Regents of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) swore in engineer Arturo Del Villar as rector of the university for a period of three years (2025-2028), making him the first graduate of the university, and the tenth person to hold the position in the 53 years of history of the higher education academy. Del Villar replaces Dr. Julio Sánchez Maríñez, who passed away in May 2025 while completing his second term.  Del Villar’s selection was announced in early November, and it occurred after a rigorous evaluation process of candidates, in accordance with the General Statutes and the Regulations for the Selection and Appointment of the rector and vice-rectors of INTEC. In his first speech, the new rector outlined the course he proposes for INTEC at a decisive moment for higher education. Del Villar expressed that his arrival to the position “is not a title, but an offering” to the institution that marked his life since he entered as an Industrial Engineering student, he also confessed that he did not dream of being Rector, but a leader who motivates others to contribute to the development of the country. “Today I am not only assuming a position; I am assuming a history,” he expressed, recalling his journey as a student, professor, dean, and vice-rector before reaching the Rectorship. Del Villar dedicated a central segment of his speech to the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), calling it “a transformative force comparable to electricity or the printing press“. He announced the creation of the INTEC Artificial Intelligence Center (CIA-INTEC), which will function as “the brain of our transformation” and will promote solutions for sectors such as health, agriculture, energy, and transportation, he said.

Three transformations towards INTEC 2030

The rector detailed that the strategic lines that will guide his mandate will be the “Revolution in Learning”, by promoting the transition towards an active model, based on challenges and oriented towards the formation of criteria; “INTEC 5.0 – Augmented Campus”, through the intensive use of analytics to personalize the student experience and anticipate risks, and “Sustainability and Freedom”, with the objective of creating a Heritage Fund INTEC 2030, which will allow strengthening scholarships and ensuring institutional growth.

Legacy and Evolution

Del Villar paid a heartfelt tribute to the deceased rector Julio Sánchez Maríñez, by announcing that he will propose the creation of the “Dr. Julio Sánchez Maríñez” Innovation and Development Center, a space for linking academia and industry that honors his vision permanently. His management, he said, is framed within what he called “Continuity with Evolution”, recognizing the progress made by his predecessors while driving key transformations.

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He specified that as a graduate of INTEC in the Industrial Engineering career, “you know about effective processes to achieve the goals outlined in the institutional strategy. As a professor and former dean of the Engineering Area, he has experienced the dreams and needs of the students to go through the different paths of their training, as well as the challenges of the teachers. As Academic Vice-Rector, he has influenced and participated in the recent achievements, recognitions and accreditations and knows very well what the desires of this hive are.” Perdomo maintained that the work of the new rector will be guided by the values that distinguish INTEC: commitment to academic excellence, service, and a firm will to transform society through the products of the academy: science, technology, and social commitment.